Description:

Buzz Aldrin Superb TLS with Original Piece of Kapton Foil from the Apollo XI Moon-Bound “Command Module”

One page TLS signed by American astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin (born 1930) as "Buzz Aldrin" in black felt-tip pen at lower left. A Kapton foil fragment is secured under a square of plastic film at center. On gilt embossed personal letterhead. In near fine condition. 8.5" x 11". Accompanied by a photocopy of the certificate of authenticity originally signed by North American Rockwell Apollo Launch Team commander Robert E. Miner.

Buzz Aldrin, the former pilot of the Apollo 11 lunar module, wrote: "On July 20, 1969, mankind's eternal dream of standing on another world was realized as Neil Armstrong and I became the first two human beings in history to walk on the Moon, during the historic voyage of Apollo 11. The spacecraft which carried Neil and me to the Moon was known at the 'Command Module' and bore the symbolic name Columbia. To protect our fragile craft from the extreme environment of deep space, a thin layer of material known as Kapton Foil, gold-colored on the front and with a silver backing, was attached to the outside skin of the Columbia. This delicate foil played a critical role by reflecting the sun's intense heat off the ship, helping us to maintain comfortable temperatures within. Because the foil was attached to the outside skin of the Columbia, its gold-colored side was directly exposed to deep space.

Due to the extremely fragile nature of the foil, most of it burned off the ship during our fiery 25,000 mph re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere on July 24, 1969. However, a small portion of it survived, salvaged by the North American Rockwell Recovery Team on board the aircraft carrier Hornet, and carefully preserved for posterity.

When reflecting on the epochal voyage of Apollo 11, I often think of the plaque left behind on the moon at Tranquility Base. It bears the inscription HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON. WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND. JULY 1969 AD. The voyage of Apollo 11 was a defining moment in human evolution, when mankind lifted itself from its Earthly cradle, and began its long journey into the universe."

Outstanding Apollo 11 content from one of America’s pioneering astronauts!

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

November 11, 2020 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000